Music is everywhere in Cuba, and the following represent some of the island's most popular genres:

Bolero: From Santiago, this is a romantic and heart felt genre, usually performed by soloists or a harmony duo in the form of a ballad.

Filin: Started in the 1940s in Havana as a response to American jazz singers like Sinatra, this style builds on bolero and trova.

Jazz: Jazz is extremely popular throughout the island, and Cuban jazz musicians are famous throughout the world. The annual International Jazz Festival in Havana and venues like La Zorra y el Cuervo and the Jazz Café are great options to experience top talent.

Nueva trova: This politicized genre arose after the Cuban Revolution in 1959, and was made famous for its folksy and emotionally charged style.

Rumba: A catch-all word for various forms of Afro-Cuban song and dance.

Salsa: This famous genre is descended from Cuban son, but also borrows heavily from other styles, particularly American jazz. Salsa dancing has been influenced by Afro-Cuban forms, especially rumba.

Son: Son gave birth to all other Cubin music genres. It originated in the 19^th century as a combination of Spanish verse & chorus, and African vocals and drumming.

Timba: A modern version of Cuban son-derived salsa that has become a dominant sound in Cuba today. It draws on African folk dances and rhythms like rumba, but also rap and reggae.

Trova: Trova comes from singer/songwriters of Eastern Cuba who used to travel from house to house singing ballads about love, women and their country.

Last updated on May 11, 2011 by Insight Cuba